St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-22
The American Railway Master Mechan-
les Open Their Twentieth Annual
Convention With Prayer
And Close the Days Proceedings With
Music and Dancing in the Ryan
Dining Hall.
a Brilliant Reception is Held at the
Sticknsy Mansion on st. An
th9ny Hill.
a Despcndent Travelling Man Kills
Himself With a Revolver On
Cedar Street.
MASTER MECHANICS.
What They Did Yesterday, the
First Day of Their Twentieth
Annual Convention.

Annual Convention.
Rev. DR.. Forbes, pastor of the
Jackson Street Methodist church, stood
up the chamber of commerce yesterday
morning and offered fervent prayer
that the twentieth annual session of the
American Railway Master Mechanics
association might be ruled by the proper
spirit and productive of the good re-
suits for which it had come together.
There were present at that time more
than 100 delegates, representing about
every state in the Union and some por-
tons of Canada. A solid and unusually
sensible looking set of men they were,
and the manner in which they disposed
of the business of the morning, bore
out the assertion of railroad man pres
ent, who said: "They have to be level
headed men to hold their positions.
They know their business and don't try
to fool with arguments on things they
don't understand
After the opening prayer. Col. Kerr,
president of the city council. gave the
convention an address of welcome on
behalf of the city. the freedom of which
he, in the absence of Mayor Smith, ex-
tended to the delegates. Thomas Coch-
ran, Jr., on behalf of the chamber of
commerce, seconded the welcoming re-
marks Of Col. Kerr. The first vice
president of the organization. j. Johann,
then delivered the annual address.
Since the last annual meeting the
PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION.
William WoOdcock. of EliZabethport.
\. j., formerly superintendent of motor
power for the New Jersey Central
roads, has died, and in his address
Aof lob
ing alluSiOn to the life and usefulness
of the dead president He also wei
coined the delegates in convention and
in brief way outlined its work. In ac-
cOrdance with vote at the conclusion
of the presidents address, series of
resolutions of regret at the death of
President WoOdcock was drawn and
read, and after several gentlemen had
given brief testimonials of their appre-
citation of his worth, the memorial was
adopted A half hours recess was
then taken, after which there was dis
cuSsion of questions suggested by vari-
Gus members. Mr.. Barnett, from the
Midland railway. OF Canada, brought I'D
the question of using fine coal on loco
motives, and this was discussed briefly.
after which j. II. SeiSchell. secretary of
the convention, suggested as a topic.
The Economy of the Use of Extension
Front Ends on Locomotives" A two
hours discussion of this subject fol-
lowed, in which many delegates partici-
pated, after which the convention adj
JOurned until to-day, when other TOPICS
of interest to the participants will be
discussed. In the afternoon the dele
gates scattered about the city at will.
carriages being at their service until
evening.
A BALI. LAST NIGHT.
The master mechanics were masters
In name only last evening, for ball was
given at the Ryan, where the hundred
or more ladies who accompany the dele
gates held absolute sway. 1t was a
very pleasant affair. The dancing took
place in the dining room of the hotel.
Siebert's full orchestra being in at
tendance. Many of the ladies and gen
tlemen were in full evening dress,
though the affair was not strictly full
dress and there was little formality
about it. A number of st. Paul
society g0erS were present as
guests of the master mechanics, among
them DR.. and Mrs. Price, WhitneyWall,
Luther Newport, Will Reid, Miss Stur-
gis, Mr.. and Mrs. w. III. Mcdonald. Mr..
and Mrs. I'll. G. Barnabee and Capt.
GrOSbeek.
Shelby Weller was floor director. and
the floor committee was William Toothe,
John b. Cox, G. r. KearnS. William NJ.
Wilson, L. Il. Freeman and d. Frank
Pierce.
To-DAY'S PROGRAMME.
To-dayS programme will include a
business session lasting from O'Clock
a. IN. until about p. m. after which a
visit will be made to Minnehaha Falls.
Chief Black, of the St. Paul fire depart
ment, will escort the party to that place
and the on return the delegates will in
spect the working of the department.
There is a move ON foot to make the
next place OF meeting the Thousand
Isles and the time will be fixed to meet
the convention Of the car builders, whose
convention has just closed at Minneap-
oils